STUDDERT, John Dillon
| Service Number: | 4565 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 27 August 1915, Newcastle, New South Wales |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 3rd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, 6 November 1892 |
| Home Town: | Mayfield East, Newcastle, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Newcastle Marists Brothers School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Railway clerk |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 21 July 1916, aged 23 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Memorialised on family grave at Sandgate Cemetery. CATHOLIC 1-H Com. 126. |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Waratah Memorial Gates |
World War 1 Service
| 27 Aug 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 4565, Newcastle, New South Wales | |
|---|---|---|
| 15 Jan 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 4565, 3rd Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '7' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: RMS Osterley embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: '' | |
| 15 Jan 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 4565, 3rd Infantry Battalion, RMS Osterley, Sydney | |
| 21 Jul 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 4565, 3rd Infantry Battalion, Fromelles (Fleurbaix) |
Help us honour John Dillon Studdert's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
From Gary Mitchell, Sandgate Cemetery
Memorialised at Sandgate Cemetery.
106 years ago today, on the 21st July 1916, Private John Dillon Studdert, referred to as Jack, 3rd Battalion (Reg No-4565), works manager's railway clerk (Divisional Engineer for Railways, Honeysuckle Point), from "Arbutus", 5 Woodstock Street, Mayfield, New South Wales, was Killed in Action by a high explosive shell at Pozieres, Northern France, age 23.
Born at Newcastle, New South Wales on the 6th November 1892 to James Eustace (died 14.10.1924) and Kathleen (Catherine) Agnes (died 29.1.1946) Studdert nee Dillon, Jack enlisted August 1915 at Newcastle, N.S.W.
Taken on strength of the 3rd Battalion 8th June 1916, in the field only 43 days.
Jack’s name has been inscribed on the Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, France.
Mr. Studdert’s name has also been inscribed on the Waratah Park Memorial Gates (photos, unveiled on the 23rd February 1921, 68 names originally inscribed of the Fallen, 70 names now inscribed), NSW Govt Railways and Tramways Roll of Honour, 1914-1919, St. Mary's-Marist Bros' School (Newcastle) Honour Roll and the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial (Australian National Memorial - France). Name not inscribed on the Honeysuckle Point Railway Workshops Roll of Honour.
Jack’s service and supreme sacrifice has been inscribed at the family gravesite. CATHOLIC 1-H Com. 126.
Younger brother Hilary James (1st Australian Pioneer Battalion, Reg No-2182, born 1895, died 1948, Sydney, N.S.W.) also served 1st A.I.F.
Older brother Hallam James Studdert (born 1890, died 1964, Maitland, N.S.W.) enlisted but did not serve, reason unknown.
Contact with descendants would be greatly appreciated.
Lest We Forget.
Biography contributed by Elizabeth Allen
John Dillon STUDDERT (Jack) was born in Newcastle, NSW in 1892
His parents were James STUDDERT and Kathleen DILLON who married in Sydney in 1884
Biography contributed by John Oakes
John Dillon STUDDERT (Service Number 4565) was born on 5th June 1892 at Newcastle. His first recorded work for the NSW Railways was as a shop boy in the Permanent Way Branch in the Northern Division from 19th August 1912. On 13th March 1913 he became a junior clerk, and on his 21st birthday a clerk. He enlisted at Newcastle of 6th September 1915, using the name ‘Jack’ Studdert.
He did admit on his Attestation Papers that he had been previously rejected for enlistment on the grounds of insufficient chest measurement. He had grown up a bit more in the meantime. For his next of kin Jack Studdert gave his father James, living in Woodstock Street, Mayfield. He was allotted to the 14th Reinforcements to the 3rd Battalion. He left Sydney aboard RMS ‘Osterley’ on 15th January 1916 reached Egypt in February. On 29th March he embarked at Alexandria for passage to join the British Expeditionary Forces on the Western Front in France, passing through Marseilles on 4th April. He was taken on strength of the 3rd Australian Infantry Battalion on 8th June 1916.
Jack Studdert was killed in action at the Battle of Pozières on 21st July 1916.
When his mother learned of this she wrote to the military:
‘Our son Pr. J Studdert 14th rein. 2 Batt has been reported to us killed in France on July 21st. Would you kindly try & get us particulars of our dear boy’s death. Where and how he fell? If he lived for any time or left any last message? If he was buried where he fell or if his remains had been taken to a cemetery or if any of his friends were nearby? Also what of his belongings?
Had he been attended by a Chaplain after he fell, or did he have an opportunity of seeing one before?
His sorrowing parents & family would be much comforted if the foregoing questions could be answered as soon as possible.’
Sadly, the truth was far from what his mother could have imagined. His mate C G Kahle (745) reported:
‘He was buried by the Pioneers in the Reserve Trench behind Pozières on the morning of 22nd July with four or five others, and a cross was put up.’
William Henry Etchell (718) stated:
‘On July 2ist at Pozières I saw Studdert killed by high explosive shell and afterwards I helped to bury him. The burial service being read by a Chaplain.’
The location of the grave was not well enough recorded, or it was subsequently obliterated, and Studdert now has no known grave. He is remembered at the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial in France.
A pension of £2 per fortnight was granted to his mother Kathleen from 4th October 1916.
- based on the Australian War Memorial Honour Roll and notes for the Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board.
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